The story

New York Sen. Hillary Clinton claimed the biggest prize of Super Tuesday's Democratic primaries with a win in California, CNN projected, while Sen. Barack Obama rode high in the Midwest and Rocky Mountain states.

Clinton took a strong early lead in California, with exit polls finding extensive support for the former first lady from women, Latino voters and blue-collar Democrats concerned about the economy. A total of 441 Democratic delegates will be chosen from the state, divided proportionally under party rules.

More than four-fifths of the 2,025 delegates needed to clinch the Democratic presidential nomination were at stake in contests across 24 states and American Samoa, but neither candidate appeared to land a knockout blow. Read full article »